Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the ambassador. The idea of inviting him and the Turkish ambassador was to allow the committee to be somewhat helpful to the process. It is also about us trying to get our heads around the way the talks process will move forward. There will probably be a significant view around the world that this cannot be done or solved. We know from our own recent history that things people felt could not be solved or moved on can be. We have prime examples in South Africa with the end of apartheid and the end of the so-called Iron Curtain and even in Ireland with the peace process. Today is about expressing solidarity but also support in relation to the ongoing negotiations between Cyprus and the Turkish Government. I wish the negotiators well while acknowledging the significant problems they face. With compromise and people wanting a positive solution, things can be moved forward.

The ambassador mentioned the Farnagusta declaration and its potential. The Irish experience was that there was a need at certain times within the talks process for confidence building measures. Does the ambassador see the declaration as such a measure? He says the port will be open. The city as it stands is like a war memorial and a shrine to what happened in the past. The ambassador spoke about building a new city and bringing people in to work together to create a shared city in its true sense. How does he see that developing and what role can Ireland and the EU play? I tried to raise the matter with the Taoiseach in the context of European Council meetings, but did not get an opportunity. I raised the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, as I know the matter came up at the European Council meeting, but there was no sense of what Europe will do. Can the ambassador outline the role the EU can play? Is it a matter of sponsorship, funding or of putting pressure on or encouraging the Turkish side on the initiative? Is the initiative coming purely from the Cypriot side or is there some support on the Turkish Cypriot side?

We have spoken about the issue of settlers in the committee and been addressed in the context of Palestine and Israel. It will be one of the key issues within the talks. We know the current leader in the north of Cyprus, Mr. Eriglu, has stated that illegal settlers in northern Cyprus should receive citizenship in any unified state. I do not want to cause problems for the talks and if necessary the ambassador may avoid my question. What impact have the settlers had on Turkish Cypriots in particular? My understanding is that many Turkish Cypriots have left that part of Cyprus as they were unhappy with the regime and environment. Has there been significant movement and has it changed the genesis of what Cyprus was? How difficult would it be to get the settlers to go back to Turkey? The other settlers are those Europeans who have bought properties on the so-called Turkish side of Cyprus. What impact will this have in relation to it? I know there have been court cases. I am sure Irish people have bought properties on the Turkish side. What impact will an eventual settlement have on what these illegal settlers?